House human-rights commission hears testimony alleging Pakistans repression of opposition, media and refugees

At a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission in Washington, D.C., U.S. lawmakers and expert witnesses described what they called an escalating campaign of political repression in Pakistan that has targeted the opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), independent journalists, religious minorities and Afghan refugees.

The witnesses told commissioners that the campaign includes arrests and convictions through military-run tribunals, blocked or removed online media channels, and mass deportations of Afghan nationals. "Pakistan's 2024 elections were neither free nor fair," said Zulfi Bukhari, a former special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who told the commission he and other PTI supporters faced bans on campaign symbols, bans on rallies, and manipulation of vote counts on Feb. 8, 2024.

The witnesses said the consequences are broad: Imran Khan, once prime minister, faces more than 200 criminal cases and remains in detention; dozens of journalists and civil-society leaders have been driven into exile or arrested; and more than a million Afghan nationals have been forcibly returned, placing many at grave risk.

The hearing opened with Co-chair Representative Smith saying the human cost "is immense in its scope as well as its severity," and emphasizing alleged restrictions on free speech, media and the electoral process. Co-chair Representative Jim McGovern told the commission that the U.S. should press for accountability and described Pakistan as "in crisis," citing economic stress, climate vulnerabilities and rising political violence.

Why it matters: Witnesses and several commissioners framed the concerns as both human-rights and U.S. foreign-policy issues. They urged the U.S. government to use diplomatic and targeted tools to press for the release of political prisoners, for restoration of media freedoms, and to halt forced deportations.

What witnesses testified

- Zulfi Bukhari, former special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan, said the Feb. 8, 2024 election was rigged by steps including removal of the PTI's electoral symbol and the disqualification of candidates. He told the panel that votes were altered in official records and that judges and electoral bodies were stacked to favor the ruling coalition.

- Jared Genser, an international human-rights lawyer representing Mr. Khan in some matters, told commissioners that the U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded Mr. Khans detention "has no legal basis" and called for his release. Genser said Mr. Khan is being detained in solitary confinement and faces a series of prosecutions that, he said, are politically motivated.

- Ben Linden, advocacy director for Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International USA, described arrests of Baloch activists, enforced disappearances, and the use of provincial anti-terror measures to allow detention without charge. Linden said Pakistani authorities have implemented a phased deportation plan that has led to the forced return of more than a million Afghan nationals and warned that many returns violate the principle of nonrefoulement.

- Sadiq Amini (testimony introduced under that name) and other panelists described the expansion of military influence in civilian governance, the broad application of colonial-era or vague laws (including references to the Official Secrets Act), and what they said were efforts to criminalize dissent and constrain the judiciary.

Evidence offered and numbers cited

- Witnesses cited the Feb. 8, 2024 general election as central to the current crisis and said the military has regained or consolidated political power since 2022.

- Panelists said military courts convicted 104 civilians after May 9, 2023, and asserted a high conviction rate in those tribunals; multiple witnesses described the trials as secret and lacking published judgments or access for families.

- Testimony referred to more than 200 cases pending against Imran Khan and to dozens of journalists and opposition figures arrested, threatened or living in exile. Witnesses estimated roughly 1.1 million people placed under indictment or in detention at various stages, and cited that roughly 1.4 million Afghan "proof of registration" cards were at risk after an expiry date mentioned in testimony.

- Witnesses told commissioners that Pakistan's media regulator (Pemra) has issued directives restricting speech about Imran Khan and that Pakistan's National Cyber Crime Investigation agency sought removal of scores of YouTube channels; Google complied initially with some removals at a magistrate's order, and witnesses and commissioners said the company should not apply local orders globally.

Discussion, recommendations and next steps

Lawmakers and witnesses discussed a range of policy responses. Several members referenced the bipartisan Pakistan Democracy Act, which would authorize targeted sanctions, and urged the executive branch to use authorities under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) and other statutes where appropriate. Witnesses called for:

- Immediate review of politically motivated prosecutions and the release of political prisoners when detentions lack legal basis; - Reversal of forced deportation plans for Afghan nationals and restoration of protections and status documentation for registered refugees; - Protections for journalists and civil-society organizations, including scrutiny of government requests to private technology platforms that ask for global takedowns; - Use of targeted sanctions (including Magnitsky-style measures) against officials credibly implicated in human-rights abuses.

At the close of the hearing, co-chairs said they would press the administration on religious-freedom sanctions, prepare a letter to Pakistans leadership calling for the release of Imran Khan and other prisoners, and seek further engagement with technology companies over content-removal requests.

What the hearing did not decide

The hearing generated multiple policy proposals and pledges by commissioners to follow up, but it did not result in legislation or executive-action commitments on the record. Witnesses and members urged continued congressional oversight and multilateral engagement but did not reach a formal vote or enactment during the session.

Ending

Commissioners said the testimonies underscored an urgent need for sustained U.S. engagement on rule of law and human-rights issues in Pakistan, and they asked witnesses for further documentation to support oversight and any future legislative steps.